Tegning efter en Himmelseng set fra siden, samt notater og mål 1902 - 1905

Niels Larsen Stevns made this drawing of a four-poster bed with watercolor on paper, but we don't know when. It's a technical drawing with meticulous attention to detail and measurements. What does it tell us about Danish society at the time? We can see the trappings of wealth in the design of the bed, but also the means of its production. Was Stevns simply commissioned to create this design, or was he taking an active role in the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century? A movement that responded to industrialization by emphasizing traditional craftsmanship. The bed is highly decorated, but also functional. Perhaps it reflects the values of the Danish middle class, who sought to combine beauty and utility in their homes. Studying design history books, museum collections of furniture, and the artist's biography would give us a clearer picture. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.